Comments for deilogos http://www.deilogos.org community discussion of religion news and religious issues; hive mind of the theological kind Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:23:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Dr. Cornel West, Philosopher of the Blues by Oobu http://www.deilogos.org/2009/06/10/dr-cornel-west-philosopher-of-the-blues/#comment-146 Oobu Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:49:26 +0000 http://www.deilogos.org/2009/06/10/dr-cornel-west-philosopher-of-the-blues/#comment-146 People like Ghandi and Jesus, with capacities to forgive the myriad atrocities committed against them and the people they love, are very, very rare. Because pushing one's self towards resolution and forgiveness at all costs is unnatural to humans. It feels wrong--like you're a coward and a fool and worse. It keeps you up at night (but then again so does the alternative). If a caveman aimed for resolution rather than might, he'd probably be dead--murdered by someone he foolishly turned his back on. So we still have these outdated biological drives in us that compel us to keep anger and distrust alive. I don't blame anyone who's been discriminated against and abused for being angry and distrusful, or for seeking a reckoning--it's natural--for the greastest sufferers it's PTSD. I think Obama begins at Buddah's bottom line: no love can be achieved through hate, no equality through inequality--a very, very difficult thing to do for someone who has experienced the injustice he has. And I'm sure for many who are justifiably angry, his stance ignores the injustices of the past. But will we evolve out of hate and racism through more hate?  Not that we can't dissent and speak our minds, but to say a Presidential administration led by an African American based on inclusivity doesn't take into consideration most marginalized African Americans simply doesn't make sense. I agree with Mr. West when he said the history of race in this country is full of steps backwards. All evolution is. But certainly it's a step backwards to say that, in the history of race in America, an African American President (who deeply respects Mr. West) is a step backwards. That's like saying food is bad for people who are starving. But Mr. West seems flooded with contradictions: love via hate, life via death, etc. He does have great taste in music though! People like Ghandi and Jesus, with capacities to forgive the myriad atrocities committed against them and the people they love, are very, very rare. Because pushing one’s self towards resolution and forgiveness at all costs is unnatural to humans. It feels wrong–like you’re a coward and a fool and worse. It keeps you up at night (but then again so does the alternative). If a caveman aimed for resolution rather than might, he’d probably be dead–murdered by someone he foolishly turned his back on. So we still have these outdated biological drives in us that compel us to keep anger and distrust alive. I don’t blame anyone who’s been discriminated against and abused for being angry and distrusful, or for seeking a reckoning–it’s natural–for the greastest sufferers it’s PTSD.

I think Obama begins at Buddah’s bottom line: no love can be achieved through hate, no equality through inequality–a very, very difficult thing to do for someone who has experienced the injustice he has. And I’m sure for many who are justifiably angry, his stance ignores the injustices of the past. But will we evolve out of hate and racism through more hate?  Not that we can’t dissent and speak our minds, but to say a Presidential administration led by an African American based on inclusivity doesn’t take into consideration most marginalized African Americans simply doesn’t make sense.

I agree with Mr. West when he said the history of race in this country is full of steps backwards. All evolution is. But certainly it’s a step backwards to say that, in the history of race in America, an African American President (who deeply respects Mr. West) is a step backwards. That’s like saying food is bad for people who are starving. But Mr. West seems flooded with contradictions: love via hate, life via death, etc. He does have great taste in music though!

]]> Comment on Thomas Merton by Donald LaBranche http://www.deilogos.org/2009/02/10/thomas-merton/#comment-144 Donald LaBranche Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:40:31 +0000 http://www.deilogos.org/2009/02/10/thomas-merton/#comment-144 What a treat to see this report. Merton has been a huge influence in my life. I'm old enough  not to be able to remember when I started reading him; a constant companion on the road to Emmaus.  And bourbon fudge sounds so much better than fruit-cake. What a treat to see this report.
Merton has been a huge influence in my life. I’m old enough  not to be able to remember when I started reading him; a constant companion on the road to Emmaus. 

And bourbon fudge sounds so much better than fruit-cake.

]]> Comment on Old Jews Telling Jokes by rebaaron http://www.deilogos.org/2009/02/05/old-jews-telling-jokes/#comment-143 rebaaron Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:58:12 +0000 http://www.deilogos.org/2009/02/05/old-jews-telling-jokes/#comment-143 And good for you for putting it up! And good for you for putting it up!

]]> Comment on Thomas Merton by the occasional buddha http://www.deilogos.org/2009/02/10/thomas-merton/#comment-142 the occasional buddha Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:45:33 +0000 http://www.deilogos.org/2009/02/10/thomas-merton/#comment-142 And, should you ever visit the Abbey of Gethsemani, be sure not to leave without a couple of pounds of their excellent bourbon fudge. And, should you ever visit the Abbey of Gethsemani, be sure not to leave without a couple of pounds of their excellent bourbon fudge.

]]> Comment on Seeing and Believing: Can science and religion play nice? by rebaaron http://www.deilogos.org/2009/01/29/seeing-and-believing-can-science-and-religion-play-nice/#comment-141 rebaaron Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:45:07 +0000 http://www.deilogos.org/2009/01/29/seeing-and-believing-can-science-and-religion-play-nice/#comment-141 I agree with you both. Ultimately, what difference does it really make? I agree with you both. Ultimately, what difference does it really make?

]]> Comment on Seeing and Believing: Can science and religion play nice? by Donald LaBranche http://www.deilogos.org/2009/01/29/seeing-and-believing-can-science-and-religion-play-nice/#comment-140 Donald LaBranche Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:58:48 +0000 http://www.deilogos.org/2009/01/29/seeing-and-believing-can-science-and-religion-play-nice/#comment-140 Iris Dement's cool song (In the soundtrack to the movie "Little Buddha")...Let the mystery be Iris Dement’s cool song (In the soundtrack to the movie “Little Buddha”)…Let the mystery be

]]> Comment on Seeing and Believing: Can science and religion play nice? by the occasional buddha http://www.deilogos.org/2009/01/29/seeing-and-believing-can-science-and-religion-play-nice/#comment-139 the occasional buddha Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:37:37 +0000 http://www.deilogos.org/2009/01/29/seeing-and-believing-can-science-and-religion-play-nice/#comment-139 That is a poetical metaphor if ever there was one Donald! The funny thing to me is that -- and this is one of the very few ways I think I might resemble Einstein -- is that I see no way to explain the great mystery of why there is anythin at all. In my mind this mystery takes place at a more fundamental level than (and underlies) either religion or science. Even if this mystery could somehow be explained I don't think doing so would make our lives any richer. Such knowledge might even take some of the fun out of the baking, if you will. It's preferable to just sit back and enjoy the mystery in my opinion. Someone else can search for fancy explanations of what they think it all means. I'll be down at the fishin' hole. That is a poetical metaphor if ever there was one Donald!

The funny thing to me is that – and this is one of the very few ways I think I might resemble Einstein – is that I see no way to explain the great mystery of why there is anythin at all. In my mind this mystery takes place at a more fundamental level than (and underlies) either religion or science. Even if this mystery could somehow be explained I don’t think doing so would make our lives any richer. Such knowledge might even take some of the fun out of the baking, if you will.

It’s preferable to just sit back and enjoy the mystery in my opinion. Someone else can search for fancy explanations of what they think it all means. I’ll be down at the fishin’ hole.

]]> Comment on Seeing and Believing: Can science and religion play nice? by Donald LaBranche http://www.deilogos.org/2009/01/29/seeing-and-believing-can-science-and-religion-play-nice/#comment-138 Donald LaBranche Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:18:21 +0000 http://www.deilogos.org/2009/01/29/seeing-and-believing-can-science-and-religion-play-nice/#comment-138 Here's how I think about it, in a foolish poet sort of way: I walk into God's kitchen. He's not around but there's a note on the counter asking me to get the bread out of the oven. So I take it out. The kitchen, indeed the whole house, is full of the wonderful smell of bread. It's crust is a dark, golden brown. I am full of joy and anticipation waiting for it to cool so I can eat it. I do not know how the bread was made. I do not know if it was kneaded by hand or by a machine. I do not know if the dough rose last night or this morning. I do not know if it's whole wheat or sourdough (the smell is yeasty so I'm leaning toward sourdough). I do not know if the bread is even for me, or for the lady down the street. Or for both of us. I can write poetry, stories, music, and paint a still life in response to the bread. I can assume that the bread smells like God. Somebody who knows about baking, chemistry, physics, etc. will have to fill me in on the other stuff. Here’s how I think about it, in a foolish poet sort of way: I walk into God’s kitchen. He’s not around but there’s a note on the counter asking me to get the bread out of the oven. So I take it out. The kitchen, indeed the whole house, is full of the wonderful smell of bread. It’s crust is a dark, golden brown. I am full of joy and anticipation waiting for it to cool so I can eat it.
I do not know how the bread was made.
I do not know if it was kneaded by hand or by a machine.
I do not know if the dough rose last night or this morning.
I do not know if it’s whole wheat or sourdough (the smell is yeasty so I’m leaning toward sourdough).
I do not know if the bread is even for me, or for the lady down the street. Or for both of us.
I can write poetry, stories, music, and paint a still life in response to the bread.
I can assume that the bread smells like God.
Somebody who knows about baking, chemistry, physics, etc. will have to fill me in on the other stuff.

]]> Comment on Who Would Jesus Smack Down? by Donald LaBranche http://www.deilogos.org/2009/01/27/who-would-jesus-smack-down/#comment-137 Donald LaBranche Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:41:35 +0000 http://www.deilogos.org/2009/01/27/who-would-jesus-smack-down/#comment-137 "I would rather be suckled by a pagan creed outworn" than embrace Calvin's worldview. But hey, this is what the Spirit of God does: goes down into the the bowels of the earth and brings out those who are lost. Not for me, but good for them. “I would rather be suckled by a pagan creed outworn” than embrace Calvin’s worldview. But hey, this is what the Spirit of God does: goes down into the the bowels of the earth and brings out those who are lost. Not for me, but good for them.

]]> Comment on Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei by Donald LaBranche http://www.deilogos.org/2009/01/22/marathon-monks-of-mount-hiei/#comment-136 Donald LaBranche Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:23:32 +0000 http://www.deilogos.org/2009/01/22/marathon-monks-of-mount-hiei/#comment-136 I'm thinking of Paul and Martin Luther... I'm thinking of "Acts and Grace" by Milosz (Road Side Dog, p. 19) And I'm thinking of "After the Praying, after the hymn-singing" by Mark Jarman, (Questions for Ecclesiastes, p.64). This is a remarkable act of discipline and prowess but are the hungry fed because of it? I’m thinking of Paul and Martin Luther…
I’m thinking of “Acts and Grace” by Milosz (Road Side Dog, p. 19)
And I’m thinking of “After the Praying, after the hymn-singing” by Mark Jarman, (Questions for Ecclesiastes, p.64).

This is a remarkable act of discipline and prowess but are the hungry fed because of it?

]]>